Logan Square

Logan Square

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Center City
ZIP code(s)	19103, 19130
Established	1825 (square renamed)
Named for	James Logan, William Penn's secretary
Boundaries	North: Fairmount Avenue, South: Market Street/JFK Boulevard, East: 18th Street, West: Schuylkill River
Adjacent	Fairmount, Spring Garden, Penn Center, Rittenhouse Square
Major streets	Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 20th Street, Arch Street
Transit	Broad Street Line (Race-Vine Station), SEPTA buses
Landmarks	Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, Barnes Foundation, Logan Circle

Logan Square is a neighborhood in northwest Center City, Philadelphia, anchored by Logan Circle (still commonly called Logan Square) and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway museum district. The neighborhood is home to Philadelphia's greatest concentration of cultural institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum, and the Franklin Institute.

Logan Circle, one of William Penn's original five public squares, features the famous Swann Memorial Fountain at its center.

History

William Penn's Plan

Logan Square was designated as Northwest Square in William Penn's 1682 plan for Philadelphia. It was renamed in 1825 to honor James Logan (1674-1751), Penn's secretary and one of colonial Pennsylvania's leading intellectuals.

The Parkway

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, completed in 1926, transformed Logan Square. Modeled on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, the diagonal boulevard cut through the grid and created the museum district that defines the neighborhood today.

Modern Development

Logan Square has experienced significant high-rise residential development since the 2000s, adding apartment towers to the traditionally institutional district.

Logan Circle

Logan Circle (the name was changed from "Square" when the park was redesigned as a traffic circle) is one of William Penn's original five squares:

Swann Memorial Fountain

The Swann Memorial Fountain (1924), designed by Alexander Stirling Calder, features:

• Three Native American figures representing Philadelphia's rivers
• The Schuylkill River (mature male)
• The Delaware River (mature female)
• The Wissahickon Creek (young female)
• Dramatic water jets

The fountain is one of Philadelphia's most photographed landmarks.

Cathedral Basilica

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul dominates one side of Logan Circle:

• Seat of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• Largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania
• Renaissance Revival architecture
• Open for tours

Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway runs from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art:

Museums and Cultural Institutions

• Philadelphia Museum of Art - Major art museum, famous steps
• Barnes Foundation - Renowned impressionist collection
• Rodin Museum - Largest Rodin collection outside Paris
• Franklin Institute - Science museum
• Academy of Natural Sciences - Natural history museum
• Free Library of Philadelphia - Central library

Public Art

The Parkway features numerous sculptures and installations:

• Flags of all nations
• Various sculptures
• Memorial fountains

Living in Logan Square

Housing

• High-rise apartment buildings (many recent)
• Some historic townhouses
• Predominantly rental apartments
• Higher-end pricing

Demographics

• Young professionals
• Museum and cultural industry workers
• Students and academics
• Downtown workers

Character

Logan Square offers:

• Walking distance to major museums
• Convenient to Center City
• Less neighborhood feel than residential areas
• Active during day, quieter at night
• Views of the Parkway and museums

Getting There

Public Transit

• Broad Street Line (The B): Race-Vine Station
• SEPTA Bus Routes: 7, 32, 33, 48, 76
• PHLASH: Seasonal tourist trolley

Walking

• 15 minutes from Center City core
• Direct access to Art Museum and Parkway
• Connected to Fairmount neighborhood

Dining

Logan Square dining is concentrated around 20th Street and the edges of the Parkway:

• Rose Tattoo Cafe - American
• Museum restaurants
• Cafes and casual spots
• Hotel dining

See Also

• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Fairmount
• Center City
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Rittenhouse Square